A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Thursday, September 10, 1998

Despite a wave of national advertising about health care, tobacco and campaign finance, a poll conducted last week in Illinois and Missouri shows that voters there say education is by far the most important issue. Eighty percent of likely voters in Illinois called it their top concern, as did 77 percent of Missourians.

"Lovers are better for world health than haters." – A sign carried by Coral Gables, Fla., resident Carolyn Fuller outside Clinton's Democratic fund-raiser there. (The Miami Herald, Sept. 10)

While respondents in the national "Battleground '98" poll released this week said moral values ranked at the top of voters' agenda, education is a major focus in several key gubernatorial campaigns. Polls show education is Alabama voters' top concern. Gubernatorial contenders in Florida and Michigan have both picked running mates specifically to shore up their standing among teachers. In addition, an incredibly heated debate over public school funding is probably the only interesting thing about the New Hampshire gubernatorial race, which Gov. Jane Shaheen (R) leads by a wide margin.

Education Tops List of Voters' Main Concerns (The Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 8)

Speaking of Getting Schooled ...
Florida Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay can't seem to catch a break. Yesterday, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee tried to boost his campaign by hosting President Clinton at an elementary school. As MacKay introduced Clinton, a TV in the room silently flashed CNN's logo: "Investigating the President."

To top things off, a 20-year Democratic veteran of the state legislature on Wednesday announced his support for MacKay's Republican rival, Jeb Bush.
MacKay's Timing? It's Not His Buddy (St. Petersburg Times, Sept. 10)
Another Democrat Backs Bush for Governor (The Miami Herald, Sept. 10)
Key Race: Florida Governor (washingtonpost.com)

Utah Democratic Chairwoman Turns on Clinton
The chairwoman of the Utah Democratic Party on Tuesday called for Congress to at least censure President Clinton for his affair with Monica Lewinsky. She is the first state party leader to offer such a strong official rebuke.
Democratic Party Of Utah Calls for Clinton Censure (The Salt Lake Tribune, Sept. 9)

N.C., Colo. Senate Candidates Backtrack on Issues
North Carolina Sen. Lauch Faircloth (R) first said he did not support raising taxes to shore up Social Security. Then someone from his campaign said he did. Then his campaign said he didn't. And that, apparently, is that.
Faircloth Campaign Backtracks (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 10)
Key Race: North Carolina Senate (washingtonpost.com)

Senate candidates in Colorado are also changing their tunes on some issues. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R) has switched his stance on gay rights, abortion rights, an assault weapons ban and campaign spending since his first campaign for Senate, in which he ran as a Democrat.

Campbell's Democratic rival, Dottie Lamm, who has been blasting his change of heart, said she no longer believes that the state should "disconnect every incubator from every baby with a birth weight of less than 1 pound, 10 ounces," as she once wrote in her newspaper column.
Senate Hopefuls Make U-Turns (The Denver Post, Sept. 6)
Key Race: Colorado Senate (washingtonpost.com)

Arkansas Governor Won't Disclose Position on Nudity
Asked if he would be willing to end Arkansas's distinction as the only state where public nudity and its promotion are banned by law, Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) said he was not sure.
Arkansas Governor Keeps Views About Nudity Law Under Cover (Dallas Morning News, Sept. 9)

With New Campaign Finance Vote Looming, D'Amato May Switch
Sen. Alfonse D'Amato (R-N.Y.), under pressure from Democrats and watchdog groups, said he may change his position and support the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill when it comes up for new consideration, which may be as early as today. D'Amato is one of eight lawmakers that would need to switch sides if the bill is to survive.
D'Amato Signals Willingness to Vote for Campaign Reforms (The New York Times, Sept. 10, registration required)
Key Race: New York Senate (washingtonpost.com)

Ryan Thornburg can be reached at ryan.thornburg@washingtonpost.com